Reclining article of furniture



May 22, 1956 A. LORENZ 2,746,522

RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Sept. 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 1956 A. LORENZ I 2,746,522

RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Sept. 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY U t d m Pm o This application is a continuation in part application of my copending application Ser. No. 54,253, filed on October 13', 1948, now abandoned, for- A Reclining .Article of Furniture.

The-presentinvention relates 'to articles of furniture, and more particularly to an article of furniture, wherein astructure including a seat, a back-rest and means con-- necting said back-rest with said seat is swingably mounted on asupport.

An object of the present invention is to provide a convenient controlling mechanism for a leg-rest swingably mounted on. the seat of a reclining article of furniture of above described type, by means of which the leg-rest may be propelled forwardly and upwardly at a great initial speed, when the movablemembers of the article of furniture are swung from their sitting position into a reclined position. v

Another object of the present invention is to equip a reclining article of furniture of above described type Witha controlling mechanism for the leg-rest, which may cause a fast movement of the leg-rest relative to the seat at the beginning of the movement of the seat from its sitting position into a reclined position, which, however, does not form a positive connection between the leg-rest and the-controlling mechanism and permits an independent movement of the leg-rest relative to the seat, if so desired.

With theabove and other objects of the invention in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, atrangernent and combination of various devices, elements and parts, as set forth'i'n the claims hereof, certain embodiments of the same being described in the specification and being illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein: a

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a reclining chair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away, v

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a reclining chair according tothe invention, aportion of a side frame beingbroken away,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a reclining arm chair according to the invention, a portion of the frame being broken away,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a reclining chair according to theinvention, a portion of a side frame being broken away, i

Fig. S is a fragmentary side elevational view of a chair according to Fig. 4, which is equipped with a holding device for holding the leg-rest in a predetermined position relative to the seat,

2,746,522 Patented May 2 1956 v A back-rest 32 is swingably mounted on the support at 34; an extension 36 of the back-rest 32 fi-xedlyconnected with the latter extends downwardly below the plane of a seat 38, the rearend portion of which is swingably mounted on the support 20 at 40 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 34 between the back-rest 32 and the support 20. On each side of the chair, the lower end of a front connecting link4 2 is pivoted to thefront portion of said seat 38 at 44. The upper end portion of said front connecting link 42 ispivoted at 46 to the front end portion of a top connectinglink 48 pivoted atits rear end portion to the back-rest 32 at 50 at a point above the plane of the seat 38. The top conneeting link' 48 is sl-idably engaged with a guidingmeans or guiding sleeve 52 pivoted to the support 20 at- 54'. Thus, the reclining chair comprises a constrained complex linkage having a plurality of movable links 32, 3.8, 42*, 48 and two stationary' links formed bythe portions of the support 20 between the pivots34 and 54 and the pivots 54 and"40 respectively and having guiding means 52 connected to the support 20 and engaged with the top connecting link 48 of the constrainedcomplex linkage.

When the back-rest 32 is swung about its pivot 34 into the reclined position indicated by 32" shown in dash and dot lines, the seat 38 included in above describedconextreme. reclined position of the movable members of the chair shown in dash and dot lines is limited by the crossbar 30 also acting as an abutment for the} back-rest ex tension 36.

On each side of the chairt-he upper end of a guiding element or guiding link56 is pivoted to the support 20- at 58. One end of a connecting element or connecting link 60 is pivoted to the lower end of said guiding element 56 at 62, the othertend of said connecting elementis pivoted to the back-rest extension 36 at 64'. Therefore, whenabov'edescribed structure including the back-rest 32 and the seat 38 is swungfrom the sitting position shown in Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating i a. modification of the leg-rest control of the chair accordingtoFig.4,

, Fig. 7 is a fragmentary-side elevational view illustrat- I dug another modification of the leg-rest control of the chair according to Fig. 4. i

Referring now to Fig. l, 20. generally indicates a sup dot lines, the guiding element 56 is swung by means of the connecting element 60 about its pivot58 from it's full line position into the position 56- shown in dash and dot lines. 6

A leg-rest 66 is swingably mounted on the front portion of theseat 38 at 68-. On each side of the chair oneend of a controlling link 70 is pivoted to said leg-rest 66' at 72, the otherend of saidcontrolling link 70ispivoted at 74 to the lower end of a controlling arm 76, the upper end of which is pivoted to the guiding element 5.6 at- 62 in coaxial alignment with the pivotalconnectionbetween said guiding element56 and the connecting element 60. One end of a controlling bar 78 is pivoted to the consv trolling arm 76 at 80, the other end of said controlling bar 78 is pivoted to the back-rest extension 36 at8'2j When above described structureincluding the back rest 32 and the seat38 is brought from the sitting posi-' tion shown in full lines into the'reclined position shown in dash and dot lines, the'leg-rest 66 is swung about its pivot 68 by means of the controlling mechanism 36,, 78,

76, 70' into the position 66 in alignment with the re-.

clined position 38' of the seats It will be noted that,

for the reasons explained above, the pivot 62 of the V controlling arm 76 of said controlling mechanism 36,

78, 76, 70 is swungalong a circular path about the point 58 into the position 625. during such ;a movement of the movable members of the chair from the sittingv position into theextreme reclined; position. Said displacement of the pivot 62 into the position 62' contributes to a fast propelling of the leg-rest 66 forwardly and upwardly about its pivot 68.

According to the embodiment of a reclining chair shown in Fig. 2, the back-rest 132 and the seat 138 are pivoted to the support 120 in coaxial alignment at 134. On each side of the chair the lower end of a front connecting link 142 is pivoted to the seat 138 at 144. The upper end of said front connecting link 142 is pivoted at 146 to the front end portion of a top connecting link 148, the rear end portion of which is pivoted to the back-rest 132 at 150 at a pointabove the plane'of the seat 138. Thus, both connecting links 142 and 148 are arranged above the plane of the seat 138. A' guiding element or guiding link 153 is pivoted to said top connecting link 148 at 151 and to the support 120 at 155. Thus, the reclining chair shown in Fig. 2 comprises a constrained complex linkage having a plurality of movable links 132, 138, 142 and 148 and a stationary link formed by the portion of the support 128 between the pivots 134 and I 155 and having a guiding link 153 pivoted to the support 120 and to the top connecting link 148.

Upon a movement of the back-rest 132 from the sitting position limited by the cross bar 128 of the support 120 into the reclined position 132 limited by the cross bar 130 and shown in dash and dot lines, the seat is brought into the reclined position 138 and the guiding element or guiding link 153 is brought into the position 153'.

A guiding member or second guiding element 156 is fixedly connected with the above mentioned guiding element 153. According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, said guiding elements 153 and 156 are made of an integral piece of material, but, if so desired, they could be made of two separate pieces, each of which being rigidly connected with a cross bar 155 journalled in the side frames 122 and 124 of the support 120. The guiding member or guiding element 156 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 corresponds to the guiding element 56 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. According to Fig. 2, said guiding member or element 156 is swung about the pivot 155 by means of the top connecting link 148 and guiding element or guiding link 153 when the back-rest 132 is swung about its pivot 134.

The controlling mechanism 136, 178, 176, 170. of the leg-rest 166 joined to the seat 138 at 168 corresponds to the controlling mechanism 36, 78, 76, 70 for the leg-rest 66 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. According to Fig. 2 the controlling arm 176 of said controlling mecha nism is pivoted to the guiding member or guiding element 156 at 162.

When the back-rest 132 and the seat 138 are brought into the reclined position 132', 138' respectively, the legrest is brought into the position 166.

According to the embodiment of a reclining arm chair shown in Fig. 3, the back-rest 232 and the seat 238 are coaxially pivoted to the supporting frame 220 of the of said front connecting link 242 is pivoted at 247 to one end of a lower connecting link 249, the other end of which is pivoted to the back-rest extension 236 at 257. Thus, both connecting links 242 and 249 are arranged below the plane of the seat 238. The upper end of a guiding elementor guiding link 256 is pivoted to the supporting frame at 255, the lower end of saidguiding element or guiding link 256 is pivoted to both connecting links 242 and 249 at 247. Thus, the reclining arm chair shown in Fig. 3 comprises also a constrained complex linkage,said linkage being similar to, although not identical with, the constrained complex linkage of the chair shown in Fig. 2. When the back-rest 232 is swung from the sitting position shown in full lines into the reclined position232' shown in dash and dot lines, the seat.

238 being also a; member of the constrained complex linkage is brought from its sitting position shown in full lines into the reclined position 238 shown in dash and dot lines.

The sitting position of the movable members of the arm chair is limited by an abutment of the back-rest extension 236 against a stop 229 arranged on the supporting frame of the chair, and the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair is limited by an abutment of the back-rest extension 236 against a cross bar 230 of the supporting frame 220.

The controlling mechanism 236, 278, 276, 270 for the leg-rest 266 pivoted to the seat 238 at 268 corresponds again to the controlling mechanism 36, 78, 76, 70 for the leg-rest 66 of the chair shown in Fig. 1. According to the embodiment of Fig. 3 the controlling arm 276 of said controlling mechanism is pivoted at 263 to the guiding element 256 at a point between the pivotal connections 255 and 247 respectively of said guiding element 256 with the supporting frame 220 and the connecting link 249 respectively. It will be noted that, according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the guiding element 256 pertaining to above described constrained complex linkage of the chair including the back-rest 232 and the seat 238 thereof acts also as a guiding element for the pivotal connection 263 of the controlling arm 276 of the controlling mechanism 236, 278, 276, 270 for the leg-rest 266. Furthermore, the connecting link 249 of said constrained complex linkage is identical with the connecting element controlling the movements of the guiding element 256 in dependence on movements of the back-rest 232.

According to the embodiment of a reclining chair shown in Fig. 4, the back-rest 332 and seat 338 are pivoted to the support 320 at points 334 and 340 spaced from each other. A downward extension 336 of the backrest 332 projecting beyond the plane of the seat 338 is fixedly connected with the back-rest 332. A front connecting link 342 and a lower connecting link 349 are arranged below the plane of the seat 338. The front connecting link 342 is pivoted to the seat 338 at 344 and the lower connecting link 349 is pivoted to the back-rest extension 336 at 357. Both connecting links 342 and 349 are pivoted to a guiding element 356 swingably mounted on the support at 355, the front connecting link 343 being pivoted to said guiding element 356 at 347 and the lower connecting link 349 being pivoted to said guiding element 356 at 359 whereby said connecting links 342 and 349 are connected to each other. Thus, the reclining chair comprises a constrained complex linkage having a plurality of movable links 336, 349, 356, 342, 338 and two stationary links formed by the portions of the support between the pivots 334 and 355 and the pivots 355 and 340 respectively and a guiding element 356 pivoted to the support and the connecting links 342 and 349. A movement of the back-rest 332 from the sitting position limited by an abutment of its extension 336 against a cross bar 328 of the support 320 into the extreme reclined position 332 limited by an abutment of its extension 336 against the cross bar 330 of the support 320 results in a movement of the seat 338 into the reclined position 338', both the back-rest 332 with its extension 336 and the seat 338 being members of above described constrained complex linkage.

A leg-rest 366 swingably mounted at 368 on the front portion of the seat 338 may be controlled by the following controlling mechanism: One end of a control bar 378 is pivoted to-the back-rest extension 336 at 382. The other end of said controlling bar 378 is pivoted at 380 to a controlling arm 376 pivoted to the guiding element 356 at 362.

356 is positioned between the pivotal connections 355 and 362 of said guiding element 356 with the support 320 and the controlling arm 376 respectively. The lower end of said controlling arm 376 ispivotally connected at It will be noted that the pivotal connection 359 between the connecting link 349 and the guiding element second controlling link 371. The cooperating abutting surfaces of the leg-rest 366 and the second controlling lmk 371 are normally held in engagement with each other by a spring 384 arranged between the seat 338 and the leg-rest 366. When the back-rest332 and the seat 338- being members of above described constrained complex linkage are brought from the sitting position shown in full lines into the reclined position 332 and 338 respectively shown in dash and dot lines, the leg-rest 366 is brought through the medium of the controlling mechanism 336, 378, 380, 370, 371 into .the position 366' shown in dash and dot lines.

. As mentioned above, the leg-rest 366 is loosely engaged with the second controllinglink 371. If desired, the legrest 366 may be moved by hand relative to the seat 338 against the action of the spring 384.. Such a movement of the leg-rest 366 relative to the seat 338 by hand may be'desirable, if the user of the chair wishes to have the leg-rest 366 at a certain angle relative to the seat 338 in a certain position of the latter.

Fig. illustrates a holding device generally indicated by 386 for holding the'leg-rest 366 at a predetermined angle relative to the seat 338, for example, in the position Said holdingdevice 386 comprises a rod 388 pivotally connected with the leg-rest at 390 and slidably engaged with a clamping sleeve 392 swingably mounted at 394 on a lug 396 rigidly connected with theseat 338.. A handle 398 serves either to tighten the clamping sleeve 392 on the rod 388 or to loosen same. If the clamping sleeve 392 is loosened, the rod 388 may freely slide therein and, consequently, the leg-rest 366 held by the spring 384 against the second controlling link 371 may follow the movements of the latter during a swinging of the backrest 332 and seat 338 about their respective pivots on the support 320.

Now assume the seat 338 is in the sitting position shown in fulllines in Fig. 5 and theoccupant of the chair wishes to have the leg-rest 366 in the position 366".

When the leg-rest has been brought into said'position 366" relative to the seat 338, the clamping sleeve 392 is tightened by the handle 398 on the rod 388, so that the leg-rest is held in said position 366". If, now, the seat 338 is moved into a reclined position, the leg-rest remains at all times in the same'position 366" at the predetermined angle relative to the seat 338. Of course, if desired, any other suitable holding device arranged between the seat and the leg-rest may be used for this purpose.

In the modification of a reclining chair as shown in Fig. 6, the leg-rest 366 pivoted at 384 to the seat 338 of a chair having a constrained complex linkage corresponding to the constrained complex linkage shown in Fig. 4 or having another link-system connecting the seat to a a back rest is again in engagement with a second controlling link 371 pivotally connected at 373 with a first controlling link 370. In said modification, however, the upper end of said second controlling link 371 is pivoted to the seat 338 at 369 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 384 between the leg-rest 366 and the seat 338.

Furthermore, contrary to the embodiment of Fig. 4 only a portion. of the second controlling link 371, i. e. an extension 375 of the second controlling link 371, is in loose engagement with the leg-rest 366.

It is understood that the remaining linkages not shown inFig. 6 correspond to the linkages shown in Fig. 4 and that the operation of a chair equipped with the modified leg-rest control shown in Fig. 6 corresponds to the operation of the chair shown 'in Fig. 4. b

. 6 According to the. mod' cation shown in Fig. 7 the second controlling link 371 is again pivoted to the seat 338 at a point 369 spaced from the pivotal connection 384 between the leg-rest 366 and the seat 338. However,

according to said modification, the leg-rest366 is in loose engagement with an extension 377 of the first controlling link 370 pivotally connected with the second controlling link 371 at 373. p i i It is. understood that the remaining linkages not shown in Fig. 7 correspond to the linkages shownin- Fig. 4and that the operationof a chair equipped with the. modified leg-rest control shown in Fig. 7 corresponds to the operation of the chair shown in Fig. 4.

I have described preferred embodiments of my inven tion, but it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various omissions or changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts as wellv as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set. forthin the appended claims. 7 a

For example, a locking device of any suitable type may be arranged on each embodiment of the reclining articles of furniture shown in the drawings so as to enable the user of the article to lock the movable members of the article in any desired position. Such a locking device isnot showninthe drawings. 1

Furthermore, the leg-rest control according to the invention may be applied to reclining articles of furniture having diiierent means for controlling the movements of the back-rest and the seatin dependence on each other, for example, having a different type of linkage including: the back-rest and theseat.

Moreover, for example, the guiding element of the constrained complex linkage must not necessarily be identical with the guiding element to whichthe controlling pivoted; it might also be a separate guiding element controlled by a separate connecting element independence on the movements-of the backrest.

What I claim is:

1. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a constrained linkage having stationary link-means and a plurality of movable links, said stationary link-means being included in said support, said movable links including a seat member, a' back-rest member, a downward extension included in the structure of said back-rest member, a guiding link and a. chain of'connecting links including. a first connecting link at one end of the chain and a front connecting link at the other end of the chain,-said guiding linkrbeing pivoted to said support and being connected with at least oneof said connecting links, said first connecting link being pivoted to the'structure of said backrest member, said front connecting linkbeing pivoted to the front portion of said seat-member, means pivotally connecting at least one of said back-rest and seat-members with said support, a leg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of said seat, a controlling arm pivoted to the structure of said guiding link at a point spaced from the pivotal connection of the latter with the support whereby the pivotal connection between the controlling arm and the guiding link is movable along a circular path having the pivotal connection between the guiding link and the support as its center, a controlling bar pivoted at one of its end portions to the lower end of said extension of the back-rest member and pivoted at its other rality of movable links, said stationary link-means being included in said support, said movable links including a seat-member, a back-rest member, a downward extension included in the structure of said back-rest member, guiding means and a chain of Connecting links including a first connecting link at one end of the chain and a front connecting link at the other end of the chain, said guiding means being connected to said support and being engaged with at least one of said connecting links, said first connecting link being pivoted to the structure of said backrest member, said front connecting link being pivoted to the front portion of said seat-member, means pivotally connecting at least one of said back-rest and seat-members with said support, a leg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of said seat, a second guiding means swing: ably mounted on said support, first means interposed between said second guiding means and the structure of said back-rest member for effecting swinging movements of said second guiding means about its pivot in dependence on movements of said back-rest member, a controlling arm pivoted to said second guiding means at a point spaced from the pivotal connection of the latter with the support whereby the pivotal connection between the controlling arm and the second guiding means is movable along a circular path having the pivotal connection between the second guiding means and the support as its center, a controlling bar pivoted at one of its end portions to the lower end of said extension of the back-rest member and pivoted at its other end portion to said controlling arm above the middle thereof, and second means interposed between the lower end of said controlling arm and the upper end of said leg-rest for effecting movement of the latter in coordination with said controlling arm.

- 3. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 2, said first means interposed between the second guiding means and the structure of the back-rest member including a connecting element pivoted at one of its end portions to said extension of the back-rest member and pivoted at its other end portion to said second guiding means, and said controlling arm being pivotally connected to said second guiding means in coaxial alignment with the pivotal connection of the latter with the connecting element.

4. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 2, said second means interposed between said controlling arm and said leg-rest including a controlling link pivoted at one of its ends to said controlling arm and pivoted at its other end to said leg-rest.

5. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising: a base, body supporting means movably mounted on said base, said body supporting means including a seat-member and a back-rest member and a downward extension rigid with one of said members, a leg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of said body supporting means, a guiding element swingably mounted on said base, means connecting said guiding element with said body supporting means for swinging said guiding element about its pivot in dependence on movements of said body supporting means, a controlling arm pivoted to said guiding element at a point spaced from the pivotal connection ofthe latter with the base whereby the pivotal connection between the controlling arm and the guiding element is movable along a circular path having the pivotal connection between the guiding element and the base as its center, a controlling bar, pivoted at different regions thereof to the lower end of said downward extension of said body supporting means and to said controlling arm above the middle thereof, and means interposed between the lower end of said controlling arm and the upper end of said leg-rest for elfecting movements of the latter in coordination with said controlling arm.

6. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 5, said means interposed between the controlling arm and the leg-rest comprising a controlling link pivoted at difierent regions thereof to said controlling arm and to said legrest.

7. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 5, said means interposed between the controlling arm and the leg-rest comprising a first controlling link pivoted at one of its end portions to said controlling arm, and a second controlling link pivoted at one of its end portions to the other end portion of said first controlling link, the other end portion of said second controlling link being pivoted to the front portion of said body supporting means, and cooperating abutting surfaces arranged on the structure of one of said controlling links and on the structure of said leg-rest for controlling the movements of said leg-rest in dependence on movements of said controlling link, said cooperating abutting surfaces loosely abutting against each other whereby said abutting surfaces may be disengaged from each other for the performance of independent movements of the leg-rest relative to said body supporting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 628,700 Dann 'July 11, 1899 2,195,091 .Lorenz et al. Mar. 26, 1940 2,433,520 Lorenz Dec. 30, 1947 2,433,521 Lorenz Dec. 30, 1947 2,472,855 Lorenz June 14, 1949 2,571,463 Lorenz Oct. 16, 1951 2,576,465 Lorenz Nov. 27, 1951 2,578,708 Lorenz Dec. 18, 1951 2,613,727 Lorenz Oct. 14, 1952 2,615,497 Luckhardt Oct. 28, 1952 2,615,498 Lorenz Oct. 28, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 220,033 Germany Mar. 14, 1910 

